Egg-grading device



June 24 1924.

N. E. CHAPMAN EGG GRADING DEVI CE Filed Sent. 26, 1922 mun I/v VENTORf N E. CHAPMAN. BY M1 M .A TTOANEYS Patented June 24, 1924.

NORTON E. CHAPMAN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

EGG-GRADING DEVICE.

Application filed September 26, 1922.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, NORTON E. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Grading Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to egg-grading devices, and an object is to provide a device by means of which eggs may quickly be graded according to weight. In marketing eggs, it is desirable to separate them into grades according to weight, so that the eggs having substantially the same weight can be placed together. A particular object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which this operation can be expeditiously performed without the trouble and time which would be consumed in weighing the eggs on scales.

The full objects and advantages of my in vention will appear in connection with the detailed description, and the novel features of my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which my invention may be embodied,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in one of their indicating positions. Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section on the line 3% of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, I provide a support consisting of a base member 10 to which are secured two standards 12 and 14 spaced from each other. In the form shown, these two standards constitute the vertical arms of a yoke-shaped piece, the middle portion of which is riveted to the base member. Intermediately pivoted to the upper ends of the standards is a trough-like lever 16, the attachment being made by a pivot-pin 17 which passes through the two sides of the trough-like lever and through thetwo standards. An egg-receiver or cup 18 is secured to the upper end of a stem 20 which is pivotally attached at 22 intermediate its length to one end of the lever 16. The lower end of the stem is connected by a link 24 with the standards 12 and 14 in such manner that this link and the lever 16 have a parallel motion and the stem and eg -receiver carried thereby are kept in upright position.

Serial No. 590,559.

In other words, the stem will be maintained parallel to a vertical line passing through the fulcrum or pivot 17. The opposite end of the lever 16 is weighted so that it normally rests upon the base member 10 with the receiver 18 in elevated position. In order to give'this lever arm the proper weight, it may have one or more weights such as 25 secured thereto. A plurality of strips 26 are pivotally mounted at their forward ends upon the pivot pin 17 and toward their rear ends are provided with legs 28 which progressively increase in length. These legs extend through an opening 30 in the bottom of the trough-like lever 16 so that all of them normally rest upon the base 10 which is the position shown in Fig. l. The strips 16 are thus normally held spread out like a fan, the lowest strip being marked Peewee and the succeeding ones being marked with numbers which progressively increase such as the numbers 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32, as shown in Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown, the rear end of the lever 16 is provided with a pin 34 which, when the lever is tilted, engages in succession the bottom of the strips 26 and lifts them as the cup is depressed by an egg placed therein. Also in this embodiment, the leg which is attached to the upper strip provided with the number 32, is shown secured to the base member by a rivet 36, since it is not necessary that said strip shall be capable of being lifted.

The operation and advantages of my invention will now be obvious. In the use of the device, the eggs to be graded are placed one after another in the receiver 18 and are then deposited in different bins or receptacles according to the weight indicated at the ends of the strips 26. If the egg is of too small weight to be readily marketable, the depressed end of the lever 16 will not be lifted and the word Peewee will remain exposed to View. Eggs of this kind will be placed by themselves so that they may be kept by the farmer for his own use. If the egg is of such weight that it will lift only the rear end of the lever arm 16 but will not lift the strip marked Peewee this word will be covered, but the number 20 will remain exposed. This means that eggs of this weight will run about 20 ounces per dozen. If the egg is of such weight that it will lift the lever 16 and the strip marked Peewee but not any of the other strips, then the number 20 will be covered while the number 22 will remain exposed and so on for eggs which are still heavier. The eggs which run 30 ounces per dozen are considered special select or of the best weight, while those which weight more than this are considered over-weight. It is to be noted that on account of the manner in which the stem 20 is attached, this stem and the receiver carried thereby will remain in upright position regardless of the position of the lever 16." If the receiver 18 were rigidly attached to the lever 16, it would not remain in an upright position and hence a correct indication would not be obtained for all grades.

I claim:'

1. An egg-grading device comprising a support, a movable member mounted on said support,'an egg-receiver attached to said movable member, and a plurality of movable elements adapted tobe picked up in succession by said movable member, said movable elements carrying marks which indicate the number of ounces per dozen for eggs corresponding in weight to an egg placed in said receiver and said marks being successively covered by the movement of said movable elements. 7

2. An egg-grading device comprising a support, a lever intermediately' pivoted to said support, an egg-receiver attached to oneend of said lever,- the other end of said lever being weighted to normally hold it downward, anda plurality of movable strips adapted to be picked up in succession by said lever, said strips carrying marks which indicate the number of ounces per dozen for eggs corresponding in weight to an egg placed in said receiver and said marks being successively covered by the movement of said strips. p

3. An egg-grading device comprising a support, a lever intermediately pivoted to said support, an egg-receiver attached to one end of said lever, ver. being weighted to normally hold it downward, a plurality of strips pivotally attached to said support, and positioned above said lever, and legs of successively increasing length secured to said strips for normally holding them in fan-shape, said strips being adapted to be picked up in succession by said lever and carrying marks which indicate the number of ounces per dozen for eggs corresponding in weight toan egg placed in said receiver and said marks being successively covered bythe movement of said strips 7' In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. NORTON E. CHAPMAN.

the other end of said le- 

